In recent years, Xiamen in Fujian province has been constructing a digital port platform in a bid to facilitate foreign trade.
Back in June, Xiamen rolled out 35 measures to facilitate cross-border trade, focusing on sectors such as port digital transformation, industrial upgrading, safe and smooth customs clearance and logistics, and reducing port charges.
"We will continue to enhance cross-border trade facilitation and promote reform and innovation in Xiamen so as to make the city a strong example of port business environment," said Lu Hailin, deputy director of the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone administrative committee.
Since last February, the Xiamen FTZ administrative committee has worked together with authorities like Xiamen Customs to tackle difficulties and improve efficiency in customs clearance.
Currently, 167 services are provided on the Xiamen digital port platform, which was launched last October.
"Market competition is fierce. The less customs clearance time that is needed, the more competitive companies are. By sorting out the trade chain, dismantling the operation process and compressing the amount of time required in each part, we are building the digital port platform to serve the whole process of international trade port operations," said Wu Zhqiang, director of the Information Service Center at Xiamen FTZ administrative committee.
In the first half this year, the overall time needed for import and export customs clearance at Xiamen Port declined by 9.76 percent and 29.08 percent year-on-year, respectively.